PREESALL UNDERGROUND NATURALGAS STORAGE FACILITY

IRISH SEA DISCHARGE PRESENTATIONBY ANDREW SAUNDERS TO THE COMMUNITY LIAISON PANEL

Contents

• The Water Washing Process• The Irish Sea Environment• Discharge Modelling and Discharge Consent• Summary

The Water Washing Process

Following slides show further details.

The Water Washing Process

Natural gas storage caverns created in new salt body by solution mining – would take place in sequence over a 4-6 year period.

Once created would be washed approximately every ten years during operation of scheme.

The Water Washing Process

Existing mine workings part of a monitoring and maintenance programme on Halite owned land for which they have responsibility.

123 wellheads being maintained. Monitoring has identified where additional measures at wells are required.

Geological Summary Report available on www.halite-energy.co.uk

Location of Brine-wells and Exploratory boreholes

Location of Preesall Salt Mine

The Water Washing Process

De-brine Facility – removes solids and gases

Located east of Wyre Estuary

The Water Washing Process

The Irish Sea Environment

• Discharge up to 80,000 cubic metres a day 2.3km from shore to the Irish Sea

• Discharge approx 2km from nearest European protected nature conservation site - Liverpool Bay Special Protection Area

• Surveys of marine life and habitat undertaken

Discharge Modelling and Discharge Consent

Discharge modelling undertaken for a range of options

Method and results agreed with the Environment Agency

Results used to support obtaining a discharge consent from the Environment Agency

Discharge Modelling and Discharge Consent

Discharge Modelling and Discharge Consent

Discharge Modelling and Discharge Consent

Summary

Water pumped from Fleetwood Fish Dock, beneath Wyre and then injected into previously undeveloped salt body to create caverns.

Water returned to treatment facility then pumped across peninsula to outfall 2.3km offshore in the Irish Sea.

Discharge would last for 4-6 years. Irish Sea – ecological surveys undertaken. Outfall would be away

from protected areas. Modelling of discharge – method undertaken in agreement with

Environment Agency and discharge consent obtained. Environment Agency standards predicted to be met at 50 and 250

metres from the outfall. Offshore environment would be monitored before, during and after

discharge.